Birds of Madagascar. 225 



like birds impaled on the branches. I suppose they must 

 live in polyandry, because one always sees three times as many 

 males as females. I have often met with three males in com- 

 pany with one female^ and they have all allowed themselves 

 to be killed one after another. In fact, when one is killed the 

 others do not fly away, but content themselves with merely 

 moving from one branch to another. These birds live prin- 

 cipally on grasshoppers, but they also devour chameleons and 

 lizards. When they cry they puff out the throat, so that 

 this portion of the body has the appearance of a pendent bag. 

 The Vorondreo plays a great part in the chants and religious 

 recitations of the Malagasy." This Roller is considered by 

 the people as bringing ill luck ; and it is said that if one of 

 them settles on a house the owners will leave it. 



Certain native names for these birds show, as in other 

 cases, some native notions as to their habits and peculiarities. 

 Thus, the Vorondreo is also called Vbrontsio, probably the 

 "Whistling-bird/' Crossley's Ground-Roller is called Vb- 

 rontrandraka, "Hedgehog-bird;" the Pitta-like Roller is 

 called Sakdka and Tsikoko, probably from sakoko, " dejec- 

 tion," "^^ melancholy ; " and also Avoka, perhaps from vo'A;aA-a, 

 "lifted from the ground;" and also Reniangaly, which 

 literally means " Mother- (or source) -of-capriciousness." 

 The Broad-billed Roller [Eurystomus glaucuriis) is known 

 by several names which are variations of the word Hara- 

 karaka, probably from the root karakara, meaning "minute 

 investigation," and so referring to the habits of the bird 

 when searching for its food. It is also called Voronkaka, 

 which would appear to mean " Enemy," although this name 

 may be only imitative of its cry. 



As remarked by M. Pollen (in words just quoted), the 

 Vorondreo is frequently referred to in the folk-lore and folk- 

 tales of the Malagasy. In the ^Antananarivo Annual,' no. 3, 

 p. 110 (reprint, p. 369) a translation is given of one of the 

 series of tales referring to a strange monster called Itrimobe, 

 and in this the Vorondreo appears and delivers the heroine 

 from danger, as follows : — 



"After that a Reo bird came, repeating its cry 'Reo, reo, 

 reOy which when Ifara saw, she called to it thus : — 



